Thanks for the great news . . . not that I have ever gotten bored with any of Spoon's offerings, but I love trying new items and I love Spoon Thai. And very curious about "another restaurant" (as you say in your post) . . . and thank you very much for all of your work with the translated menus -- you have helped people like me take Thai dining to an entirely different level.

** To say that it was my "favourite dish of the day" is really saying something because yesterday was a day filled with great Thai foodstuffs. For lunch, and in addition to the khâo phàt plaa salìd, I also had Spoon's papaya salad with pickled crab, banana blossom salad, shrimp paste dip with grilled mackerel and crudités, kao-lão mũu yâw, and kaeng tai plaa. And, then later, from PNA, I purchased (more) homemade kaeng tai plaa, phàt phèt sà-tàw (spicy curry fry with pork and sator beans), and néua tàet dìaw (beef "jerky"). And, then, even later, for dinner at Sticky Rice, I had sùkîi-yaki mũu (spicy mung bean noodle soup with pork). And, then, MUCH LATER, at approximately 3a.m., and after a night of drinking and carousing, I joined several Thai friends at an undisclosed location where I enjoyed mũu má-nao, râat nâa mũu, and nãem sii-khrong. So, yeah, it was truly stupendous fried rice.

Original post edited to add photo links.

Last edited by Erik M. on July 19th, 2006, 9:16 am, edited 3 times in total.

This was indeed a fabulous fried rice. The rice was a little chewy and every grain coated with a bit of oil and lovely slight saltiness from the fish. Fresh vegetables in the fried rice were a welcome accent (as opposed to the freezer veggie mixes - with corn - at some other places). Spoon served a tremendous lunch - among the finest impromptu meals I've had in a long time (with thanks to Erik and his translations).

Erik, hope the translation of the 'new' menu is moving along. I can't wait to fork out for whatever else Spoon dishes out.

Is Spoon Thai at 4608 N Western? I've yet to try it, and after reading about it on this thread I'm eager to go! I visited Thailand last December for a week and had some really great food there. Am looking forward to trying more Thai places in Chicago.

I have been reluctant to discuss it in the past, but I intend to write something soon because there are some truly exceptional foodstuffs on offer at PNA. That, and, well, I now have the owner's blessing.

Seth Zurer wrote:I didn't even realize it existed; anything particular to look out for there, aside from the tai plaa?

I just stopped in today and picked up another version of kaeng tai paa, along with náam phrík kà-pì (shrimp paste “dip”), kaeng sôm (“sour,” tamarind-flavoured curry), and néua tàet dìaw (dried “jerky” beef).

The offerings are a bit random, but I can tell you that the best days to stop by are Wed/Th (when many local Thais go to get the latest newspapers and magazines from Thailand) and Saturday. On these days there is quite an array.

The majority of the labeling on these items is in Thai, but the kindly owner/counterwoman will be happy to explain it all to you, I am sure.

E.M.

* The various foodstuffs come from various sources, but it is almost all homemade by local Thai women.

For my edification: how can a place have so many menu items?!? How can the kitchen be prepared to turn out whatever someone might order from a thousand choices?!? Let alone the kitchen of a storefront restaurant?

I've been to Spoon and I know it's good. I don't doubt that they can do this. I just don't know how. But I bet somebody here does.

I understand that many dishes on this menu are variations on a theme, rather than being completely separate from one another--but still!

Thank you, Erik, for spurring me to finally feel confident enough to try Spoon Thai. I was nervous taking kids there, but it was fantastic! I mean, the food was truly spectacular. We went last Satuday for lunch and would have gone back the next day if we could have!

Our server gave us both the translated Thai menu and the regular English menu, and we were able to order from both so that the two adults (my husband and me) and two kids (our sons ages 3 & 1) could happily enjoy the meal. The kids had the cucumber salid with steamed white rice and gorgeous chicken satay with peanut sauce (of course the little one can't have peanut sauce yet but he loved the chicken!). Later, we got them some pad thai but they were so full they couldn't eat it. They loved it reheated at home the next night.

We also ordered the sliced pork neck salad. I can't tell which one it was from your translated menu, but it was served on a bed of lettuce leaves, with large slices of juicy pork neck (rather than the minced chicken or slivers of beef we have had in salads with a similar name -- some version of Larb Nar? -- at more Americanized Thai restaurants).

Our favorite was the catfish "custard" (wow!) although I am having trouble forgetting the slightly fermented flavor of those delicious rice sausage balls. I can't wait to go back!

Here is what I am thinking we will order next time (in addition to our two new favorites and something for the kids), but I want to get your opinions on whether it would be the right way to go to move further into authentic, delicious discovery of Thai cuisine.

Seriously, though, I am very impressed with your adventuresome spirit.

If your husband really likes soups (and if he is also game for a fair bit of heat) have him try the tôm khlông plaa châwn, which is a lightly sour soup with Mudfish steaks, lime leaves, and lemongrass. That is one of my favourites at Spoon.

And, Susan, on a separate visit, I would encourage you to try the sour curry & pork omelette combination: